Cannot connect to my 1200nw printer

[gab_pan]

Hello everyone,

I’m reaching out as a last resort because I’ve been trying for hours to reconnect my HP Neverstop Laser MFP 1200w to my Wi-Fi network and PC, and nothing seems to work. Here's a quick timeline of everything I’ve tried:

1. Previous setup: Everything worked perfectly in my old house — the printer was connected to Wi-Fi, easily discoverable, and printing without issues.

2. New house, new Wi-Fi: I moved to a new location and couldn’t find a way to update the printer’s Wi-Fi settings directly, so I did a factory reset. I had to connect the printer via Ethernet, as no other method allowed me to access the settings.

3. HP Smart app issues: After the reset, I tried using the HP Smart app to set up Wi-Fi again. But when it got to the part where it should list available networks, it showed nothing — despite the printer being right next to the router.

4. PC setup attempt: I then tried the setup via my computer. This time I could see the Wi-Fi network, and things seemed to be progressing — until the final step, where the printer was supposed to obtain an IP address. The setup failed there.

5. Ethernet + manual setup: I read that I could configure Wi-Fi manually by connecting to the printer via Ethernet and accessing 192.168.223.1. I did that, entered the Wi-Fi credentials, and disconnected the Ethernet cable.

6. Wi-Fi appears connected: The printer now shows a solid blue Wi-Fi light with full signal bars, so I assume it’s connected properly.

7. Connecting to PC: I then went to Windows “Add a device”. The printer showed up, I clicked “Add”, but the process failed.

8. Temporary success: After rebooting my PC, router, and printer, I tried again and the printer was finally added successfully.

9. Still not printing: However, when I tried printing, nothing happened. The printer status showed as “offline”.

10. Back to square one: I removed the device and tried to add it again — but now the printer doesn’t show up at all.

At this point, I’ve tried everything I could think of — factory reset, app and manual setup, reboots, etc. I’ve spent over 4 hours on this, and honestly it’s been incredibly frustrating. I’m starting to consider going for a wired setup or even buying a different printer — possibly not HP — as I’ve never had this much trouble with basic connectivity.

That said, I’m hoping someone in the community has a magic fix or advice I haven’t tried yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @gab_pan,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

It's impressive the amount of steps you have tried on your own, i really appreciate it.

Let's try a few more steps:

Check Printer’s IP Address

Print a Network Configuration Page (hold Wi-Fi + Resume for 5 sec).

If the IP is 169.xxx, the printer isn't connected properly.

If it's 192.168.x.x, enter it in a browser to check access.

Assign a Static IP

Log into your router’s settings and assign a static IP to the printer.

Restart the printer and try again.

Reinstall Printer with Direct IP

Remove the printer from Control Panel > Devices and Printers.

Re-add it using TCP/IP address (not auto-discovery).

Check Firewall & Router Settings

Temporarily disable Windows Firewall.

Check router settings for AP Isolation or Guest Mode (disable if on).

Try USB Setup First

Connect via USB, install drivers, then switch to Wi-Fi.

Try these and let me know! 😊

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[gab_pan]

The printer was indeed with 169.xxx

I connnected to the printer via ethernet, and in the IPV4 page, allocated a static IP. Then saved and disconnected the ethernet cable.

I have then used a network mapper but could not see the printer on that new static ip I allocated.

I will try to restart the computer and printer to see if it changes anything.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @gab_pan,

Thanks for the update! Since the printer had a 169.x.x.x IP initially, assigning a static IP was a good move. Restarting both your printer and computer is definitely a smart next steps, sometimes that helps refresh the network settings and makes the new IP visible.

Let me know how it goes after the restart, and I’ll be right here if you need anything else.

Best regards,